End gripper for cloth laying machines



June20, 1939. 'l y 1 M. BRETHv 2,162,879

Y END GRIPPER FOR CLOTH LAYING MACHINE Filed, oct. 21, 1937 j Y y l A ATTORNEY June 20,1939. M. BRT'H 2,16,s79

END GRIPPER FOR CLOTH LAYING MACHINES I Filed oct. 21, 1957 s sheets-sheet 2 I lNvENToR MAX/M/L/AN 5F57# BY l ATTORNEY June 20, 1939. M BR`ETH v y2,162,879

END GRIPPER FOR CLOTH LAYING MACHINES 4Filed oct. 21. 1937 3 sheets-sheet 5 MAx/M/z/AA/ 5257// v v BY l g2g. M

j ATTORNEYy Patented June 20, 1939 stares END GRIPPER FOR, CLOTH LAYING MACHINES 23 claims.

This invention relates to end grippers for cloth laying machines.

An object of this invention is to provide an end gripper of the character described, provided with pins adapted to penetrate a plurality of layers of cloth, and in which the pins are adjustable to accommodate various numbers of layers of various thickness.

A further object of this invention is to provide an end gripper of the character described which may be used with a cloth laying machine, laying two kinds of cloth at once, for example, linings and interlinings.

Yet another object of this invention is to pro- Vide in end grippers of the character described, means for adjusting the position of the penetrating pins relative to the leader blades on the cloth folding bar.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in an end gripper of the character described, means for holding the gripper in disengaging position away from the cloth.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an end gripper of the character described including a pivoted member carrying the penetrating pins and means for changing the ulcrum of said pivot member as the cloth piles up to accommodate reiatively thick piles of cloth.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable device of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate and adjust, and yet practical and eflicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.`

The invention accordingly consists in the features ci construction, combinations of elements. and arrangement of parts which will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter described, and cf which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims. K

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative ernbodiments of this invention,

Fig. l is a top plan View of a portion of a cutting table and illustrating a usual cloth folding bar, forming part of a cloth laying machine, and an end gripper for the cloth, embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig 1 with the gripping members received between the leader blades of the folding bar.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. l.

(Cl. 27o-30) Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line t-ll of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan View of the mechanism for holding the grippers out of engagement with respect to the cloth. t

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 5 6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 'l is a cross-sectional view taken on line lof Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 10 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the cloth piled up, and the fulcrum for the pivotal pin-carrier raised, and also showing the cloth folding bar in raised position.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, lll designates a cutting table on which the cloth is to be laid. On the table is a reciprocating cloth. `laying carriage C of usual construction. The only portion of the machine illustrated in the drawings, is the cloth folding bar ll, likewise of usual construction and comprising generally of top and bottom leader blades i2 and i3, inter-1v connected at ytheiren-ds by end walls I4 provided with trunnions l la to permit rotation of the bar from the position shown in Fig. 10 in a counter-clockwise direction through an angle of 180. Interconnecting the leader 1blades is a rear wallr l5, formed with a longitudinal slot I6. End walls lli have extensions Il carrying a rod I8 parallel to, and adjacent slot I6. Any suitable usual means (not shown) may be provided for raising the cloth folding bar Il as the cloth piles up during the cloth laying operation. In the usual cloth laying machine, the carriage moves back and forth on the cutting table to lay the cloth in a pile or in layers.

The present invention is for improved end grippers to engage the folded ends of the cloth as the carriage reciprocates back and forth on the cutting table. The end grippers are located at the ends of the table and the carriage reciprocates between the end grippers. In the drawing there is illustrate-d one end gripper 2t embodying the invention, it being understood that in the usual clothlaying machine, two such end grippers are provided disposed symmetrically to one another at the opposite ends of the table.

The end gripper 2li comprises a pair of parallel, symmetrically disposed stanchions 2 l, located adjacent the side edges of the table l and near one `end of the table. The stanchions 2l are interconnected by a horizontal rod 22. Said stanchions are formed with aligned openings 23 receiving therethrough a horizontal rod 24, disposed above the connecting rod 22. Said stanchions are furthermore formed with integral aligned, vertical slotted guides 25. One of the guides is formed with an ear 25 having a horizontal aperture 21 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Fixed to the rod 24 inside of the stanchions 2| is a pair of parallel levers 30, interconnected by a horizontal connecting rod 3| so as to move together. One of the levers 30 is formed with a handle extension 32. The levers 3|! are furthermore formed with aligned slots 34, and extending through said slots are the ends of a horzontal rod 36. The outer ends of said rod 36 also pass through the vertical slots in the guides 25 of the stanchions 2|.

It will now be understood that as the handle 32 is worked up and down, the rod 35 will be lowered and lifted. A set screw 31 on one of the stanchions 2| is adapted to engage the rod 24 to retain the levers 3D in their various adjusted positions.

Pivoted on the rod 36 adjacent the levers 30 are a pair of similar arms 46, the outer ends whereof are interconnected by a horizontal rod 4|. Rotatably mounted on the outer end of the rod 4| are wheels 42 adapted to roll on table I5 before the cloth piles up sufliciently to lift said wheels off the table, as will appear hereinafter. It will now be understood that when the rod 4| is raised the arms 46 will pivot about the rod 36 which serves as a fulcrum for such pivotal movement.

As shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, there is mounted on rod 4| a plurality of members 43, each comprising a collar or sleeve 44, through which the rod 4I passes. Set-screws 45, extending through the collars 44, serve to fix the rod 4| to the members 43. Extending from each collar 44 is a web portion 46 carrying a shoe 41, the outer or bottom curved surface 48 whereof, is concentric with respect to the axis of rod 4| and has a radius of curvature somewhat less than the radius of curvature of wheels 42. The shoes 48 are formed with aligned bosses 49, formed with openings 56, receiving therethrough a horizontal rod disposed at a lower level than the rod 4 I.

Any suitable number of members 43 may be provided in spaced relation to each other, five such members being shown in the drawings for the purpose of illustration.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 9 of the drawings, there is fixed to the outer ends of the rod 5| a pair of shoes 53 similar to the shoes 41 of the members 43. 'Ihe members 43, 53 are adapted to rest on the cloth adjacent the folded end thereof as the cloth piles up.

Pivoted on the rod 5| are a plurality of pincarriers 55, disposed between the members 43. Any suitable number of pin-carriers may be provided, four being shown in the drawings for the purpose of illustration only. Each pin carrier has at the ends thereof, a pair of upstanding arms 56, fo-rmed with horizontal through openings 51, through which the rod 5| passes. The arms 56 are provided with horizontal openings 58, disposed longitudinally of the table I6 and at nected by a shoe portion 63, having a transverse cross-section, substantially similar to the shoes 41 and 53. Each shoe 63 is thickened at the opposite ends thereof, as at 64, the thickened portions 64, being formed with inclined through openings G5. The openings 65 are inclined downwardly and toward the adjacent end of the table l0. Slidably and non-rotatably received within each opening 55 is a tubular chuck 55, the lower end whereof is formed with a plurality of radial slits 61. The lower slitted portion of the chuck 66, tapers toward the bottom and is formed with external screw threads 68.

Extending within the axial openings 65| in the chuck, is a pin 15 the lower pointed end of which projects below the bottom end of the chuck. Nut 12, screwed on the threads 68, serves to press together the slitted portions of the chuck to clamp the pin 1|). By loosening the nut 12, the pin may be released for adjustment longitudinally of the chuck or for replacement. Set-screw 14 serves to hold the chuck 66 against rotation.

The operation o-f my improved end gripper will now be described: The end gripper may be used in conjunction with a cloth laying machine which lays two different kinds of cloths at the same time, for example, lining and interlining. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the cloth laying operation is begun with the lever handle 32, raised up, and with the fulcrum rod 35 in its lowermost position, with the ends thereof at the lower ends of the slotted guides 25. The wheels 42, carried on the rod 4|, engage the table, and the shoes 41, 53 and 63 are disposed somewhat above the table. Two layers of cloth Sil and 8| coming from bolts of cloth on the carriage pass through the folding bar one layer passing through the slot l5 and engaging the lower edge |5a of the back wall l5 formed by said slot, and the other layer 8| passing beneath the rod i8, and through said slot. As shown in Fig. 4, both layers pass around the lower leader blade in engagement with the forward edge |312 thereof. As the carriage, together with the cloth folding bar move to the left toward the gripper, the wheels 42 will ride up on the lower leader blade and enter between the blades l2 and i3. Shoes 41, 53 and the pin carriers 55 will also move into the cloth folding bar and between the blades I2 and I3. The' pins 15 will slide over the folded cloth and will pierce the two layers of cloth disposed directly above the lower leader blade |3. Fig. 4 shows the extreme position of the cloth folding bar at the left end of the stroke. In such position any suitable, adjustable stop member 84 on the carriage C may strike one of the slotted guides 25.

When the stop 84 strikes the slot guide 25, the carriage C is moved to the right, or in an opposite direction. The pins 1i), however, being engaged with the layers 85 and 8| hold the cloth at the fold as the folding bar moves to the right, away from the gripper. As the carriage moves to the right the pins 16 penetrate further into the cloth. The folding bar is then rotated through an angle of 180 deg. in any suitable manner about the trunnions Ila in a counterclockwise direction so that the leader blade I2 is at the bottom and the folding bar opens on the right to receive a similar end gripper at the other end of the table. In this manner the carriage C moves back and forth and at the end of each stroke the cloth is gripped by the pins 1Q at the fold. As the cloth piles up, the pile engages the bottom surfaces of the shoes 41, 53

and 63, to lift the rod 4| and the arms 40, causing pivotal movement of said arms about the fulcrum rod 36. As the cloth piles up, the folding bar is also raised in the usual manner.

When the cloth has piled up a certain amount, the set screw 31 may be loosened and the handle 32 moves to horizontal position, as shown in Fig.

' l0 of the drawings, to raise the fulcrum 36 Vfor the pivoted arms 4U. When the cloth has piled up a still greater amount, the handle 32 may be pushed down to the bottom to raise the rod 38 to the top of the slotted guides 25. With such construction the gripper may be used with relatively thick piles of cloth.

The pins 10 may be adjusted in the chucks S5 to penetrate four thicknesses of cloth or even more. The position of the pin 'IB relative to the leader blades I3 may be adjusted by properly manipulating the screws 59.

Means is provided to hold the cloth grippers up in cloth disengaging position. To this end, there is slidably mounted within the opening 21 of the ear 2S, a pin 85 having a head 86 at one end. On the pin 85 is a collar A coil compression spring 88 is interposed between the collar and the ear 26. One end 89 of the pin 85 projects into the path of the adjacent arm dil. The under surface of the pin 89 may be bevelled, as at Sii, to permit the arm 48 to be raised about the pivot 36 to the dot-dash line position of Fig. 3, in which position the pin 85 snaps beneath the arm ri to hold the gripper up, out of engagement with respect to the cloth. By pulling outwardly on the head 8S, the arm lll! is released to permit the grippers to fall into operative position.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as` various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. An end gripper comprising a pivoted member, means on said member to engage one or more layers of cloth, means for vertically adjusting the height of the fulcrum of said pivoted member, and means for fixing the fulcrum of said lever at various heights, said pivoted member being free to swing about its fulcrum without moving said fulcrum, in the various positions of said fulcrum.

2. An end gripper comprising a pivoted mem ber, means on said member to engage one or more layers of cloth, means for vertically adjusting the height of the fulcrum of said pivoted member, means for xing the fulcrum of said lever at various heights, said pivoted member being free to swing about its fulcrum without moving said fulcrum, in the various positions of said fulcrum, and. means for holding said pivoted member in inoperative position with said engaging means raised upwardly away from the cloth.

3. An end gripper of the character described comprising a horizontal rod, a pair of arms pivoted about the axis of said rod, the outer ends of said arms being interconnected by a shaft, means on said shaft carrying pins for penetrating cloth, means for raising and lowering said horizontal rod, and means for retaining said rod in various vertically adjusted positions. Y

4. In combination with a table, a support on said table, a horizontal bar carried by said support, a member pivoted to said bar and provided with a handle, a vertical slotted guide on said support,fa second horizontal bar projecting into said guide, said pivoted member having a portion engaging said second bar for lifting the same within said guide, a second member pivoted to said second bar, and means on said second pivoted member for gripping cloth laid on said table.

5. In combination lwith a table, a support on said table, a horizontal bar carried by said support, a member pivoted to said bar and provided with a handle, a Vertical slotted guide on said support, a second horizontal bar projecting into said guide, said pivoted member having a portion engaging said second bar for lifting the same within said guide, a second member pivoted to said second bar, means on said second pivoted member for gripping cloth laid on said table, and means for fixing said first pivoted member against rotation in various angular positions thereof.

6. In combination with a table, a support thereon, a lever pivoted on said support, a member pivoted to said lever, means on said pivoted member for gripping cloth laid on said table, and means for pivotally moving said lever to various angular positions, for adjusting the height of the fulcrum for the pivoted member without changing the height of the gripping means.

7. In combination with a table, a support thereon, a lever pivoted on said support, a member pivoted to said lever, and being otherwise unconnected to said support and free to swing about its pivot, and means on said pivoted member for gripping cloth laid on said table, said pivoted member being adapted to be swung upwardly by its fulcrum for bringing said gripping means out of engagement with respect to said cloth,'

and means for retaining said pivoted member in raised position. f

8. An end gripper for a cloth laying machine comprising a horizontal bar, a pair of similar arms pivoted to said bar, said pivoted arms beingl interconnected by a shaft, a pair of wheels on said shaft, a plurality of members fixed to said shaft and having curved under-surfaces concentric with respect to the peripheries of said wheels, and of less radius than said wheels, a second horizontal shaft interconnecting said members, a holder pivoted on said second shaft, a pin carried by said holder, and a screw on said holder adapted to engage said first shaft.

9. An end gripper for a cloth laying machine comprising a table, a support on the table, a horizontal bar carried on said support, a member pivoted at one end to said bar, a pair of'parallel, horizontal shafts supported by said pivoted member, a holder pivoted to one of said horizontal shafts and carrying a pin adapted to penetrate layers of cloth on said table, and an adjustable member on said holder adapted to contact said other shaft.

10. An end gripper for acloth laying machine comprising a table, a support on said table, a member pivoted to said support, a pair of parallel shafts carried by said pivoted member, a holder pivoted to one of said shafts, means on said holder to engage the other of said shafts, a chuck carried on said holder, and a pin carried within said chuck, said chuck having means to clamp said pin in various longitudinally adjusted positions of said pin relative to said chuck.

l1. An end gripper for a cloth laying machine comprising a table, a support on said table, a member pivoted to said support, a pair of parallel shafts carried by said pivoted member, a holder pivoted to one of said shafts, a chuck carried on said holder, a pin carried within said chuck, and means on said holder and engaging said other shaft to adjust the angular position of said holder on said first shaft.

12. An end gripper for a cloth laying machine comprising a table, a support on said table, a member pivoted to said support, a pair of parallel shafts carried by said pivoted member, a holder pivoted to one of said shafts, a chuck carried on said holder, a pin carried within said chuck, means on said holder and engaging said other shaft to adjust the angular position of said holder on said first shaft, and means for adjusting the vertical position of the fulcrum for said pivoted member.

13. In combination, a cutting table, a pair of spaced, parallel supports on said table, a horizontal shaft carried by said supports and disposed above said table, a member pivoted on said shaft and comprising a pair of parallel, aligned interconnected levers, a handle on said member, said levers being formed with slotted portions, a horizontal shaft carried by the slotted portions of said levers, a pair of vertical, slotted, aligned, guides on said supports, said second shaft passing through said slotted guides, a pair of spaced arms pivoted to said second shaft, a third horizontal shaft interconnecting the outer ends of said pivoted arms, a pair of shoes on said last mentioned shaft, a fourth horizontal shaft carried by said shoes, a plurality of holders pivoted to said fourth shaft, screws on-said holders engaging said third shaft to vary the angular positions of said holders with respect to said fourth shaft, said. holders being formed with downwardly inclined openings, chucks within said openings, and pins adapted to penetrate layers of cloth on said table, adjustably fixed within said chucks.

'14.. In combination, a cutting table, a pair of spaced, parallel supports on said table, a horizontal shaft carried by said supports and disposed above said table, a member pivoted on said shaft and comprising a pair of parallel, aligned interconnected levers, a handle on said member, said levers being formed with slotted portions, a horizontal shaft carried by the slotted portions of said levers, a pair of vertical, slotted, aligned, guides on said supports, said second shaft passing through said slotted guides, a pair of spaced arms pivoted to said second shaft, a third horizontal shaft interconnecting the outer ends of said pivoted arms, a pair of shoes on said last mentioned shaft, a fourth horizontal shaft carried by said shoes, a plurality of holders pivoted to said fourth shaft, screws on said holders engaging said third shaft to vary the angular positions of said holders With respect to said fourth shaft, said holders being formed with downwardly inclined openings, chucks within said openings, pins adapted to penetrate layers of cloth on said table, adjustably fixed Within said chucks, and a pair of wheels carried by said third shaft.

l5. In combination, a cutting table, a pair of spaced, parallel supports on said table, a horizontal shaft carried by said supports and disposed above said table, a member pivoted on said shaft and comprising a pair of parallel, aligned interconnected levers, a handle on said member, said levers being formed with slotted portions, a horizontal shaft carried by the slotted portions of said levers, a pair of Vertical, slotted, aligned, guides on said supports, said second shaft passing through said slotted guides, a pair of spaced arms pivoted to said second shaft, a third horizontal shaft interconnecting the outer ends of said pivoted arms, a pair of shoes on said last mentioned shaft, a fourth horizontal shaft carried by said shoes, a plurality of holders pivoted to said fourth shaft, screws on said holders engaging said third shaft to vary the angular positions of said holders with respect to said fourth shaft, said holders being formed with downwardly inclined openings, chucks within said openings, pins adapted to penetrate layers of cloth on said table, adjustably fixed within said chucks, a pair of wheels carried by said third shaft, and a plurality of shoes having curved under-surfaces, on said fourth shaft.

16. An end gripper for a cloth laying machine, comprising a pivoted member, a holder pivoted relative to said member, a pin adapted to penetrate layers of cloth mounted on said holder for longitudinal sliding movement, means for fixing said pin in various longitudinally adjusted psitions, means for varying the angular position of said holder relative to said pivoted member, and means for varying the vertical height of the fulcrum for said pivoted member.

17. An end gripper for a cloth laying machine, comprising a pivoted member, a holder pivoted relative to said member, a pin adapted to penetrate layers of cloth, means on said holder for supporting said pin for longitudinal sliding movement, means for xing said pin in various longitudinally adjusted positions, and means for varying the vertical height of the fulcrum of said pivoted member.

18. An end gripper for a cloth laying machine, comprising a member having an opening, a tu;- bular chuck slidably mounted longitudinally within said opening, means for fixing said chuck to said member in longitudinally adjusted position, a-pin slidably mounted longitudinally in said chuck, said chuck comprising means for fixing said pin thereto in longitudinally adjusted position.

19. An end gripper for a cloth laying machine, comprising a member pivoted about a horizontal axis, a second member pivoted to said member about a horizontal axis and being free to rotate in one direction about its axis, means to adjustably limit rotation of said second member in an opposite direction, said second member being formed with a downwardly inclined opening, a tubular chuck slidably mounted Within said opening, and a pin slidably mounted within said chuck, said chuck being provided with means to grip said pin in various longitudinal positions of said pin relative to said chuck.

2Q. An end gripper for a cloth laying machine, comprising a member pivoted about a horizontal axis, a second member pivoted to said member about a horizontal axis and being free to rotate in one direction about its axis, means to adjustably limit rotation of said second member in an opposite direction, said second member being formed with a downwardly inclined opening, a tubular chuck slidably mounted within said opening, a pin slidably mounted within said chuck, said chuck being provided with means to grip said pin in various longitudinal positions of said pin relative to said chuck, and means to vertically adjust the fulcrum for said rst pivoted member.

21. An end gripper for a cloth laying machine, comprising a member, a holder pivoted to said member about a horizontal axis, means for limiting rotation of said holder about its axis in one direction, a tubular chuck mounted on said` holder for longitudinal sliding movement, means for fixing said chuck to said holder in various longitudinally adjusted positions, a pin Within said chuck, said chuck having means to grip said pin in various longitudinally adjusted positions.

22. An end gripper for a cloth laying machine comprising a `lever pivoted about a horizontal axis, a pointed pin on said lever adapted to penetrate a plurality of layers of cloth, and means for adjusting the vertical height of the fulcrum for said lever.

23. An end gripper for cloth laying machines comprising a table, a lever pivoted to the table about a horizontal axis, a holder pivoted to said lever, a pointed pin on the holder adapted to penetrate layers of cloth, and means to vertically adjust the fulcrum for said lever.

MAXIMILIAN BRETH. 

